Richie Kotzen

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Richie Kotzen
Kotzen in San Diego, November 2007
Background information
Birth name	Richard Dale Kotzen, Jr.
Born	(1970-02-03) February 3, 1970 Reading, Pennsylvania United States
Genres	Hard rock, blues rock, funk rock, instrumental rock, pop rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion, blue-eyed soul
Occupations	Musician, singer-songwriter, producer
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, piano, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, mandolin, dobro, violin, banjo
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Shrapnel, DGC
Associated acts	Arthur's Museum, Poison, Greg Howe, Vertú, Mr. Big, Forty Deuce, Wilson Hawk, The Winery Dogs
Website	Official website
Notable instruments
Richie Kotzen Signature Telecaster Fender Stratocaster

Richard Dale "Richie" Kotzen, Jr. (born February 3, 1970 in Reading, Pennsylvania) is a guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. Currently he is touring with The Winery Dogs with Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan,^[1]^[2]^[3] supporting an album they recorded in Los Angeles in August 2012.

Biography

Richie Kotzen began playing piano at the age of five. At the age of seven he was inspired by the band KISS to learn the electric guitar. He started his career in a band named Arthurs Museum. Kotzen was eventually discovered by Shrapnel Records' Mike Varney, and he recorded his first solo album by the age of 19. He created the video Rock Chops for REH video in 1989, highlighting many of his formative techniques, including using wide-intervals and fluid sweeping.

In 1991, at age 21, Kotzen joined glam-metal band Poison, co-writing and performing on the album Native Tongue. This album produced two top twenty singles which Kotzen co-wrote, "Stand" and "Until You Suffer Some (Fire & Ice)". In late 1993, he was dismissed from the band for having an affair with drummer Rikki Rockett's fiancee, Deanna Eve.

In 1999 Kotzen replaced Paul Gilbert as guitarist in the mainstream rock band Mr. Big, performing on their album Get Over It. He also contributed guitars to their subsequent release Actual Size. The record included the Kotzen song Shine, which debuted at number one on Japanese radio charts. After Mr. Big disbanded, Kotzen released the solo album Change, in 2003. The title track and the song Get A Life were featured in TV commercials throughout Japan.

In 2002 Kotzen bought a commercial building in Los Angeles and established a recording studio and production company. He has since produced acclaimed solo albums and collaborated with various figures in rock (Gene Simmons), jazz and fusion, including jazz legend Stanley Clarke.

In 2006 Kotzen was the opening act in Japan for The Rolling Stones on their Bigger Bang tour.

In 2013 the super rock band, The Winery Dogs released their debut album on May 15, 2013 in Japan.

Guitar playing style

Kotzen has described his style as a mix of rock, blues, jazz, fusion, and soul music. Of his albums, he claims he is most proud of Vertú. Kotzen utilizes a heavy amount of legato and sweeping in his playing. As his main influence he lists Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie Van Halen, Jason Becker, who produced his first album, Allan Holdsworth and many other jazz and fusion players.

Instruments and equipment

Kotzen has used Fender electric guitars for most of his career, most notably his signature model Telecasters and Stratocasters, as well as other custom-made models. Currently, there are two Richie Kotzen signature models, made by Fender Japan – a Stratocaster (STR-145RK) and a Telecaster (TLR-155RK). Both guitars feature ash bodies with laminated flame maple caps, maple necks and one piece maple fretboards with abalone dot inlays and 22 super jumbo frets. The Telecaster model features a DiMarzio Chopper T pickup in the bridge position (single spaced humbucker) and a DiMarzio Twang King in the neck position. The Stratocaster is fitted with three custom made DiMarzio single coil pickups.

At the beginning of his career, Kotzen used Ibanez guitars and Laney amplifiers before switching to Fender guitars and Marshall amplifiers in the early 1990s. He used Marshall Super Lead, JCM800 and JCM900 models as well as Yamaha DG Series amps in the late 90's. Yamaha DG1000 preamp with Marshall EL34 100/100 poweramp, and Yamaha DG130H, Yamaha DG100 combo etc.

In 2005, Cornford Amplification issued a Richie Kotzen signature model – RK100, a single channel tube amp head developed and designed in collaboration with Kotzen to suit his expansive playing style. There is also a matching signature model speaker cabinet, equipped with four Celestion Vintage 30 12" speakers. Both the amplifier head and the speaker cabinet are the only Cornford models fit with Kotzen-style black tolex covering.

Kotzen prefers not to use many pedals (effects in general) when playing live. However, over the years, he has been using several versions of Sobbat Drivebraker and Glowvibe pedals on top of Marshall amps when not playing with the Cornford. He also uses reverb and delay effects of his signature series Zoom G2R effects processor, which is connected in the effects loop of the amplifier.

Discography

Arthurs Museum

(1988) Gallery Closed

Solo albums

(1989) Richie Kotzen
(1990) Fever Dream
(1991) Electric Joy
(1994) Mother Head's Family Reunion
(1995) The Inner Galactic Fusion Experience
(1996) Wave of Emotion
(1997) Something to Say
(1998) What Is...
(1999) Bi-Polar Blues
(1999) Break It All Down
(2001) Slow
(2003) Change
(2004) Get Up
(2003) Acoustic Cuts
(2006) Ai Senshi Z×R (Music from the animation series Gundam)
(2006) Into The Black
(2007) Go Faster/Return Of The Mother Head's Family Reunion
(2009) Peace Sign
(2011) 24 Hours

Live albums

(2008) Live In São Paulo/Bootlegged In Brazil

EP's

(1996) Times Gonna Tell (EP)

Compilations

(2004) The Best Of Richie Kotzen (Greatest Hits)
(2006) Instrumental Collection: The Shrapnel Years
(2010) A Best of Collection
(2010) A Ballads Collection

Poison

(1993) Native Tongue
(2008) Seven Days Live (live album)

Richie Kotzen & Greg Howe

(1995) Tilt (Richie Kotzen and Greg Howe)
(1997) Project (Richie Kotzen and Greg Howe)

Sass Jordan

(1994) Rats (backing vocals)^[4]

Mr. Big

(1999) Get Over It
(2000) Deep Cuts
(2001) Actual Size
(2002) In Japan
(2004) Influences & Connections – Vol. 1

Vertú

(1999) Vertú (project with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White)

Forty Deuce

(2005) Nothing to Lose

Wilson Hawk

(2009) The Road

The Winery Dogs

Richie Kotzen, playing with The Winery Dogs at De Boerderij in Zoetermeer, The netherlands (2013)

(2013) "The Winery Dogs"

Collaborations

(1993) The Electric Pow Wow (with Stevie Salas)
(1996) Sticky Wicked (with TM Stevens)
(1996) Ground Zero (with TM Stevens)
(1996) Only You (with TM Stevens)
(1999) Not So Innocent (with Jesse's Powertrip)
(2000) Mikazuki in Rock (with Mikazuki Tekkodan)
(2000) Submarine (with Gregg Bissonette)
(2000) From The Archives Vol. 1 - Incense & Peaches (with Glenn Hughes)
(2003) All That I'd Be (with Steve Saluto)
(2004) Nowhere To Go (with Takayoshi Ohmura)
(2004) ***Hole (with Gene Simmons)
(2006) Rough Beat (with Steve Saluto)
(2006) Avalon (with Richie Zito)
(2006) Erotic Cakes (with Guthrie Govan)
(2007) Emotions in Motion (with Takayoshi Ohmura)
(2007) Live For Tomorrow (with Marco Mendoza)
(2008) Supermihl & Superfriends (with Andy Susemihl)
(2010) Resurrection (with Steve Saluto)
(2010) You Can't Save Me – Remix (with Clarence Jey & Steve Mcleod)

Various artists albums

(1991) Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey: Music from the Motion Picture
(1992) L.A. Blues Authority – "L.A. Blues Authority"
(1992) The Guitars That Rule The World – Vol. 1
(1994) L.A. Blues Authority Volume V: Cream Of The Crop
(1996) Crossfire – (A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan)
(1997) Black Night – Deep Purple Tribute According To New York
(2000) Bat Head Soup: A Tribute to Ozzy
(2001) Stone Cold Queen: A Tribute to Queen
(2002) One Way Street: A Tribute To Aerosmith CD
(2002) An All Star Lineup Performing The Songs Of Pink Floyd
(2004) Spirit Lives On: The Music Of Jimi Hendrix Revisited Vol. 1
(2005) Numbers From The Beast – An All Stars Salute To Iron Maiden
(2010) Siam Shade Tribute

Videography

(1989) Rock Chops
(1993) 7 Days Live (Live shot concert with Poison)(re-released 2006)
(1994) Mother Head's Family Reunion DVD
(1994) Mother Head's family Reunion (Video-clip from the Mother Head's family Reunion Album)
(1996) Wave of Emotion (Video-clip from the Wave of Emotion Album)
(1997) Something To Say (Video-clip from the Something To Say Album)
(2001) Don't Wanna Lie (Video-clip from the Slow Album)
(2001) Shine (Video-clip from Mr. Big's Actual Size Album)
(2002) Hi-Tech Rock Guitar
(2005) Live In South America
(2008) Chase It (Video-clip from the R.O.T.M.F.R. Album)
(2008) Bootlegged in Brazil
(2009) Everything Good (Video-clip from Wilson Hawk 'The Road' Album)
(2009) Paying Dues (Video-clip from 'Peace Sign' Album filmed by Kotzen's daughter at home)
(2010) Larger Than Life (Video-clip from 'Peace Sign' Album filmed by Kotzen's)
(2011) Behind Blue Eyes (Acoustic Video-clip filmed by Kotzen's)
(2011) 24 Hours (Video-clip from '24 Hours' Album filmed by Kotzen's)

References

↑ Portnoy, Mike. "MP Studio Diary for Portnoy/Sheehan/Kotzen sessions - Day 1". Retrieved 11 April 2013.
↑ Portnoy, Mike. "MP Studio Diary for Portnoy/Sheehan/Koten sessions - Day 14". Retrieved 11 April 2013.
↑ "THE WINERY DOGS: Official Logo, Band Photo Unveiled". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
↑ Allmusic Entry

External links

Official Richie Kotzen site
Richie Kotzen at the Internet Movie Database
Richie Kotzen Live in Argentina
Kotzen's solo with Mr. Big
http://www.myspace.com/richiekotzen (Official MySpace page)
http://groups.myspace.com/MHFR (official MySpace Richie Kotzen group)
Interview on IronCityRocks.com
Richie Kotzen discography at MusicBrainz

v t e Richie Kotzen

Studio albums	Richie Kotzen Fever Dream Electric Joy Mother Head's Family Reunion The Inner Galactic Fusion Experience Tilt (w/ Greg Howe) Wave of Emotion Project (w/ Greg Howe) Something to Say What Is... Break It All Down Bi-Polar Blues Slow Change Acoustic Cuts Get Up Ai Senshi Z×R Into the Black Go Faster/Return of the Mother Head's Family Reunion Peace Sign 24 Hours

EPs	Times Gonna Tell

Live albums	Live in São Paulo/Bootlegged in Brazil

Compilation albums	The Best of Richie Kotzen Instrumental Collection: The Shrapnel Years A Best of Collection A Ballads Collection

Related articles	Discography Poison Vertú Mr. Big Forty Deuce Mike Varney Richie Zito Greg Howe Pat Torpey The Winery Dogs

v t e Poison

Bret Michaels Rikki Rockett Bobby Dall C.C. DeVille Matt Smith Richie Kotzen Blues Saraceno

Studio albums	Look What the Cat Dragged In Open Up and Say... Ahh! Flesh & Blood Native Tongue Crack a Smile... and More! Power to the People Hollyweird Poison'd!

Live albums	Swallow This Live Great Big Hits Live! Bootleg Seven Days Live (CD) Live, Raw & Uncut (CD)

Compilations	Poison's Greatest Hits: 1986–1996 Poison – Rock Champions Best of Ballads & Blues The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock Poison – Box Set (Collector's Edition) Double Dose: Ultimate Hits

Videos	Sight for Sore Ears Flesh, Blood, & Videotape Swallow This Live: Flesh & Blood World Tour Seven Days Live Poison Greatest Video Hits Nothing but a Good Time! Unauthorized Poison Video Hits The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock (DVD) Live, Raw & Uncut (DVD)

Singles	"Cry Tough" "Talk Dirty to Me" "I Want Action" "I Won't Forget You" "Rock and Roll All Nite" "Nothin' but a Good Time" "Fallen Angel" "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" "Your Mama Don't Dance" "Unskinny Bop" "Something to Believe In" "Ride the Wind" "Life Goes On" "(Flesh & Blood) Sacrifice" "So Tell Me Why" "Stand" "Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)" "Body Talk" "Shut Up, Make Love" "Be the One" "Power to the People" "The Last Song" "Rockstar" "Squeeze Box" "Shooting Star" "We're an American Band" "What I Like About You" "SexyBack"

Solo albums	A Letter from Death Row Glitter 4 Your Soul Songs of Life Freedom of Sound Rock My World Custom Built Jammin' with Friends

Related articles	Discography Samantha 7 A Letter from Death Row (film) The Surreal Life Rock of Love Season 1 2 3 Celebrity Apprentice 3 Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It Celebrity Apprentice: All-Stars

v t e Mr. Big

Eric Martin Paul Gilbert Billy Sheehan Pat Torpey Richie Kotzen

Studio albums	Mr. Big Lean into It Bump Ahead Hey Man Get Over It Actual Size What If...

Live albums	Raw Like Sushi Mr. Big Live Raw Like Sushi II Japandemonium: Raw Like Sushi 3 Channel V at the Hard Rock Live Live at Budokan Static In Japan Back to Budokan

Compilation albums	Big Bigger Biggest: Greatest Hits Deep Cuts Greatest Hits Next Time Around: Best of Mr. Big

Singles	"Addicted to That Rush" "Green-Tinted Sixties Mind" "To Be with You" "Just Take My Heart" "Wild World" "Ain't Seen Love Like That" "Take Cover" "Not One Night" "Superfantastic" "Static" "Where Are They Now" "Shine" "Arrow" "Undertow" "All the Way Up"

Related articles	Discography Walter "Herbie" Herbert Kevin Elson Racer X David Lee Roth Impellitteri Tak Matsumoto Group Avantasia The Winery Dogs

Authority control	WorldCat VIAF: 59276685 LCCN: n91127569 ISNI: 0000 0000 5518 6739 GND: 134906721

Persondata
Name	Kotzen, Richie
Alternative names	Kotzen, Richard Dale
Short description	American musician
Date of birth	February 3, 1970
Place of birth	Reading, PennsylvaniaUnited States
Date of death
Place of death

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